"I have had a plan for five years for this guy," Roach told Boxing Scene, referring to Mayweather.
This is likely because talks of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight first surfaced five years ago, when both boxers were the undisputed top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
But negotiations would fall apart, and then start again, several times over the next few years. It wasn't until late February 2015 that a deal for a May 2 bout was finally signed for what is likely to be the richest bout in boxing history.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are not the same fighters that they were five years ago when Roach first created his game plan, and the trainer said he has made some changes accordingly.
"It has changed a bit because both fighters have changed," Roach said. "But most of it is still intact."
"I know exactly what I want Manny to do," he stressed. "When I go home to training camp, we'll start working on it."
Roach has no plans of revealing what that game plan is, however, and even says that he plans to shut down the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles while Pacquiao is training there.
"I won't tell you what the game plan is, because that will be very silent," he said. "The whole Wild Card Gym will be shut down."
"We will work out Manny's best strategy, and nobody will watch it," he stressed. "The cameras are only allowed after sparring and after mitts."
Pacquiao is the underdog against Mayweather, who has a 47-0 record and is known as one of the greatest defensive fighters of his generation.
But Roach is confident, believing that Pacquiao is "the best guy in the world," and insists his fighter is "fresher and stronger" than the American champion.
"I studied (Mayweather) quite a bit. He's a good fighter, don't get me wrong, but he's a bit boring," said Roach. "We have to dictate the pace of the fight, we have to throw more punches. He's very defensive."
Pacquiao is already at the Wild Card Gym, and kicked off the Los Angeles phase of his training camp yesterday. Roach is currently in Macau where he is set to corner Zou Shiming as the Chinese star challenges Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng for a flyweight title.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
